The development of short food supply chains – where intermediaries between farmers and consumers are removed – should result in fairer remunerations for farmers and higher quality local food products, supporters say.

IItalian farmers say they have been the “weak link” in the country’s fragmented food chain and are seeking ways to effectively organise themselves in order to increase their bargaining power in the agricultural market.

Europe’s agri-cooperatives called on the Commission on Tuesday (22 August) to increase transparency in the food supply chain and enact EU legislation to protect food producers from the unfair trading practices of their economically stronger partners.

Germany's agriculture minister said on Tuesday (8 August) that the contamination of millions of eggs with a potentially harmful insecticide was "criminal", as authorities in several European countries continued to investigate the food safety scare.

The new CAP reform will fully apply in 2015. Among other changes, 30% of direct payments will now depend on farmer’s implementation of environmental measures to protect Europe’s water, soil and biodiversity. While the framework is taking effect, we are looking at a new leadership in the Commission and the European Parliament that will steer the EU’s agriculture decision for the next five years.

The promised launch of the Communication on Sustainable Food by the European Commission, initially planned for 2013, has once again been postponed. This is a significant set back for the much-needed reevaluation of Europe’s food system, write a group of NGOs.